Sunday 21st July was the hottest day ever recorded on earth, repeated again on Monday 22nd July.

On Sunday 21st July, a staggering temperature record was broken. The world recorded an average air surface temperature of 17.09°C, shattered just 24 hours later on Monday 22nd July with 17.15°C.

These records were broken according to preliminary data from the Copernicus Climate Change Service, making it the hottest days on record since 1940.

While conditions may not have been hot locally for us across the UK and Ireland, sweltering heatwaves were engulfing many parts of the globe including Japan, China, the US and large swathes of southern Europe.

Every month over the last 13 consecutive months has become the hottest month since records began.

It so far seems plausible given the months so far that it could be another record-breaking year, but 2024's temperatures will depend on the intensity of when and how strongly La Niña develops.